If the first category you looked at when looking at Saturday night's box score was shots on goal, you'd assume a high scoring game. The Phoenix Coyotes pounded the Minnesota Wild in shots all night, with 41 to just 25 for Minnesota.
The Coyotes needed just one of those shots to win.
Taylor Pyatt scored the lone goal of the game and Ilya Bryzgalov was flawless in Phoenix 1-0 win over the Wild at Jobing.com Arena, snapping the Yotes' five-game losing streak at home.
The win comes despite a fantastic performance from the opposing goaltender, Niklas Backstrom. He stopped 40 of the 41 shots he faced, while driving his shutout streak to over 157 minutes, tops in franchise history.
Oddly enough, the Coyotes' scoreless streak was approaching a similar number. Since scoring in the second period against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Coyotes were held scoreless until the third period on Saturday, including Wednesday's drubbing at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks.
Had Pyatt not broken through, that streak may have continued. The Coyotes missed numerous opportunities to get something past Backstrom, but couldn't manage a score, with Martin Hanzal failing on a point blank shot being the best example.
Pyatt's goal came courtesy of Sami Lepisto, who has shown a steady improvement with Phoenix this season. He carried the puck up the left side, before giving Pyatt a great feed that he one-timed past Backstrom. Lepisto's assist was the game's only other point.
After giving up at least four goals in four of his last five starts, Bryzgalov settled down against the Wild, turning away all 25 shots and earning his fourth shutout of the season.
The win puts the Coyotes at 61 points, good for seventh place in the Western Conference. While they sit just three points out of 11th, they are also only four points out of that third seed, currently owned by the division leading Dallas Stars.
Phoenix will have a quick day off to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday before getting back to the grind, with a big tilt against the Colorado Avalanche awaiting them for Monday.